Apparatus for separating single threads from a lease



Aug. 3, 1965 F. v. H. J. FAURING 3,197,838

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SINGLE THREADS FROM A LEASE Filed July 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR. lksom/x V44 0514 fihwJE/wMFw P/Am Aug. 3, 1965 F. v. H. J. FAURlNG APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SINGLE THREADS FROM A LEASE Filed July 8, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. F s' E0 ElF/g Vfl-DEM/M //AAL5 JsA/mv Hum/Iva 3,197,838 APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SINGLE THREADS FROM A LEASE Frederik Valdemar Hans Jensen Fauring, 9 Maglekildevej, Copenhagen, Denmark Filed duty 8, 1963, Ser. No. 292,591 Claims priority, application Denmark, July 20, 1962, 3,243/ 62 1 Claim. (CI. 28-43) This invention relates to improved apparatus for separating single threads from thread layers that have been leased to prevent the crossing or inversion of two consecutive threads. The apparatus is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with knottiug machines wherein the threads of an exhausted layer are to be tied to the threads of a new layer.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved, inexpensive, simple and durable apparatus for separating single threads from a thread lease. The invention is characterized by the use of separator or shaker means for loosening the threads of the lease, said shaker means being also operable in combination with fork pusher means and finger means to separate single threads from the lease.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following pecification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view .of the thread separating apparatus with certain parts removed for the sake of clarity;

FIGURES 2 and 3 are schematic vertical transverse and plan views, respectively, of the apparatus of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURES 4-7 are schematic illustrations of the operation of the apparatus to remove successive single threads from the lease.

Referring to FIGURES 1-3, the apparatus includes an axially reciprocatory and oscillatory fork 1 that is arranged between and parallel with a pair of pipes or tubes 2 that contain lease cords 9, and a pair of rotary separator or shaker elements 3 the ends of which are provided with leaves 4. The axes of the fork, pipes and rotary elements are parallel and are arranged in a common horizontal plane. Arranged above, and in the vertical plane containing, fork 1 is a rocker arm 5 that pivots about a fixed horizontal axis (as shown by the solid and phantom lines in FIGURE 1). Pivotally connected with the free end of arm 5 is a finger 6 which is operable to separate successive end threads from the lease 7 as will be described below.

The fork 1 oscillates about its longitudinal axi between first and second angular positions corresponding with the angular positions of the thread slants in the lease (as shown in FIGURES 6a and 7a, respectively). The fork 1 is also forwardly and rearwardly reciprocable between first and second longitudinally displaced positions (as shown in FIGURES 3 and 7, respectively) in which the extremities of the bifurcated end portion of the fork push against and are retracted from the lease threads, respectively.

The pipes 2 continuously extend into the lease beyond the separator elements 3 and the fork 1 and serve to maintain open the lease thread layers and to prevent the lease cords 9 from bending or from obstructing the operation of the other elements.

As shown in FIGURES 4 and 7, when the fork 1 is in the retracted position, the leaves 4 of the separator elements 3 extend into the lease. The rotating elements 3 and the leaves 4 cause shaking (or loosening) of the lease threads adjacent the fork 1.

United States Patent 0 3,197,838 Patented Aug. 3, 1965 Referring to'FIGURE 1, it will be seen that finger 6 is continuously biased in the clockwise direction relative to arm 5 by a spring 12. As the arm 5 pivots downwardly to the position shown by the phantom lines, an extension on finger 6 engages stop block 13, whereupon the finger 6 is pivoted in the clockwise direction relative to arm 5 to the position illustrated in phantom in FIG- URE 3.

The operation of the thread separating apparatus may now be described with reference to FIGURES 4-7, it being remembered that the apparatus works in conjunction with a knotting machine (not shown) that moves between two leased thread layers at a certain speed.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 4a, assume that at a given time the first end thread 8 of the lease 7 extends over the right-hand pipe 2 and under the left-hand pipe 2. The fork 1 is in the retracted position and the leaves 4 of the rotary members 3 extend between the lease layers. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 50, as the fork 1 is axially displaced to cause the bifurcated end to engage the thread slant extending from beneath the right-hand pipe 2 and above the left-hand pipe 2, all threads having the same slant as the fork are displaced forwardly (i.e., to the left in FIGURE 3) by the fork. Consequently, all of the threads of the opposite slant-with the sole exception of the end thread 8are also displaced forwardly as a result of the action of the fork on the threads of the first lant. This axial movement of the fork is accompanied by rotary movement of the separators 3 to cau e displacement of the leaves 4 to vertical positions that maintain the end thread 8 in place. Movement of the leaves 4 to the ver tieal positions causes shaking of the lease threads as they are displaced forwardly by the fork 1. The finger 6 is pivoted (by stop block 13 a arm 5 pivots downwardly) from the position shown in FIGURE 5 to the position shown in FIGURE 6, whereby the single thread 8 is displaced laterally rearwardly relative to the other lease threads. Upon the retraction of fork 1 from the FIGURE 6 position, the lease threads 7 are returned, as a result of the tension thereon, to their original FIGURE 4 position. To remove the next end thread, the fork 1 is pivoted to the opposite slant as shown in FIGURE 70, and the operation described above is repeated.

In certain cases, the lease threads may be so delicate as to preclude the use of rotary separator members 3. In this case, the separator members are oscillated about their axes through angles of de rees to effect, in combination with the fork means, separation of successive end threads from the lease. Furthermore, in certain instances it may be desirable to utilize fork means provided with four prongs instead of two.

While in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes the preferred form and embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the apparatus described without deviating from the invention set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

Apparatus for separating single threads from a lease, comprising a pair of parallel spaced lease tubes adapted to support intercrossed lease threads in such a manner that alternate threads of the lease extend with opposite slants over and under, and under and over, said lease tubes, respectively;

a pair of parallel, spaced separator elements arranged on opposite sides of, and coplanar and parallel with, said lease tubes, each of said separator elements extending at one end between the lease thread layers and terminating in a generally planar leaf portion, said separator elements being axially rotatable to displace said leaf portions between first and second positions parallel with and normal to the lease axis, from said lease threads and upon return of the lease respectively; threads to their initial position, said end thread is axially reciprocatory and oscillatory fork means arlaterally spaced from said lease threads.

ranged between, spaced from and parallel with said lease tubes, said fork means being operable to engage 5 ReEerences Cited by the Examiner the end of the lease layer having a slant opposite UNITED STATES PATENTS the slant of the end thread when the separator eleo ment leaf portions are in the second position and to 1147135 7/15 Hathaway 28*43 laterally displace the lease thread in one direction 1786238 12/30 Hammer away from said end thread, said end thread being 10 2:175:277 10/39 Nohng 28 "43 maintained against displacement in said one direc- FQREIGN PATENTS tion by said leaf portions; and finger means operable to laterally displace said end 457084 11/36 Great Bntam' thread in the opposite direction relative to said lease DONALD PARKER, Primary Examiner threads, whereby upon retraction of said fork means 15 

